Scottish Executive

Anti-Social Behaviour

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in the last two years, broken down by local authority area.

Jackie Baillie: A study was commissioned by the Executive from the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland in 1999 which monitored the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, as well as the extended powers of eviction for anti-social behaviour in the Act. The outcome of that survey was published in March 2000 and a copy was placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  The report indicated that a total of 15 ASBOs had been applied for in the period 1 April 1999 to 1 December 1999, of which nine had been granted and two breached. The study did not break the figures down by local authority area. This relatively small number is not unexpected, given that the new grounds had only been effective since 1 April 1999. A repeat of that study is due for completion shortly and will provide up to date figures on the use of ASBOs and the new eviction powers. A copy, when published, will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) formal complaints by neighbours to local authorities, (b) legal actions and (c) evictions in respect of anti-social behaviour there were in each local authority area in each of the last three years.

Jackie Baillie: This information is not held centrally. A new Scottish Executive return is being introduced from 1 April 2001 which will obtain, among other things, the following information for all local authorities each quarter: the number of eviction actions for anti-social behaviour which (a) proceeded to court during the quarter; (b) resulted in an eviction order being issued during the quarter, and (c) resulted in an eviction during the quarter. We expect the first information to be available in December 2001 for the quarter April to June 2001.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken as a result of the study by the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland which monitored the use of new grounds for eviction.

Jackie Baillie: The study entitled The Crime and Disorder Act 1998: The use of section 23 evictions for anti-social behaviour , which also reports on the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, was received in March 2000. A copy was placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre. A repeat of that study is currently being undertaken to establish the position to date. The Scottish Executive will consider what action needs to be taken in the light of that study which is due for completion shortly. A copy of the report, when published, will be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can quantify the numbers of instances of anti-social behaviour in each of the last two years in each local authority area, using as a definition the types of behaviour described as anti-social in paragraphs 21 to 27 of Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour: The Way Ahead .

Jackie Baillie: Not at present. Pilot work has recently begun on improving the quality and quantity of information collected by local authorities and other landlords.

Domestic Fuel Prices

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11942 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 March 2001, what specific discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government, involving which ministers and on what dates, on the impact of the domestic fuel oil price increase of over 100% in the last 18 months on (a) its social inclusion strategy, (b) the budgets of local authorities and (c) the health care of elderly and vulnerable people.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The impact of the recent rise in the price of domestic fuel oil has to be taken together with the effect of UK Government policy in promoting competition in the regulated energy sector, which has resulted in reductions in gas and electricity prices over the past decade.

  The policy areas mentioned in the question are, however, all devolved, and the impact on them of recent oil price rises is therefore a matter for the Scottish Executive. The issue is one that requires a co-ordinated response and, in respect of fuel poverty for instance, the Scottish Executive has been working with the other devolved administrations, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions to achieve such an response.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take on the conclusions of the Report of the Deferrals Working Group.

Nicol Stephen: The consultation with COSLA on the report’s recommendations is not yet complete. Once it is I will make a full response on the report.

Employment

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3176 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 March 2001, whether it will provide details of the action areas for jobs scheme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: As indicated in the answer to question S1O-3176 Action Teams for Jobs is a Department for Education and Employment initiative which provides additional, flexible assistance to jobless people in discrete areas of high unemployment.

  The Action Team in East Ayrshire has been operational since 26 June 2000 and celebrated its 200th job entry on 10 February 2001. Action Teams focus on small areas and groups of people at a particular disadvantage in the labour market. Participation in the initiative is voluntary and help is available to jobless people in the Action Team area regardless of the type of benefit they are claiming.

  The East Ayrshire Team is currently focusing on the Shortlees and Riccarton areas of Kilmarnock, and the areas of Muirkirk, Logan, Lugar and Netherthird & Craigens in Cumnock.

Employment

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3176 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 March 2001, how much funding the action areas for jobs scheme will receive in each of the next three years in East Ayrshire and how many jobs it estimates will be created.

Ms Wendy Alexander: As indicated in the answer to question S1W-14487 Action Teams for Jobs is a Department for Education and Employment initiative. Further to the Chancellor’s budget announcement on extensions to existing Action Teams, I can confirm that the East Ayrshire Team will be extended until March 2004.

  A further £120 million has been allocated to extend the initiative across Great Britain until 2004, including the creation of two new teams in Scotland. Details of the resources allocated to each team are still under discussion within DfEE and should be finalised in the next weeks. All teams will be set stretching targets, with a focus on helping those furthest from active labour market involvement.

Environment

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of the environmental programme monitoring the clean-up of the Holy Loch for each year since it began, broken down by organisation involved.

Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The information requested is not held centrally.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10680 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 1 December 2000, whether it will give details of the criteria on which the preferred bidder was chosen, with particular reference to the criteria on safety.

Ms Wendy Alexander: As the tendering process has not yet been completed, Scottish Enterprise consider that it would not be appropriate to make public at this time details of the criteria specified for the selection of an operator for the proposed ferry service between Rosyth and Europe.

  The operation of a ferry service of this kind will require compliance with contemporary safety standards determined by the International Maritime Organisation in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10680 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 1 December 2000, what the composition and remit of the steering group are and when it will next meet.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The steering group established by Scottish Enterprise for the purpose of taking forward the proposal to establish a ferry service between Rosyth and Europe included representatives of Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise Fife, Fife Council and the Scottish Tourist Board. The remit of the steering group was to facilitate the introduction of the service by selecting a preferred operator.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10680 by Wendy Alexander on 1 December 2000, whether it will give a definition of the "appropriately high standard" to which it expects the ferry service to be run.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The high standard deemed appropriate for the operation of the proposed ferry service between Rosyth and the Continent includes aspects such as an operator having a record of safe and reliable provision of ferry services, the operation of technologically advanced vessels fully compliant with current safety standards, a high level of commitment to customer service and staff training, and the strict observance of safety regulations in the operation of vessels.

Fisheries

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ban on fishing from riverbanks which currently exists, includes or exempts fishing for salmon.

Rhona Brankin: As a result of the foot-and-mouth disease situation, a number of proprietors of salmon rod fisheries around Scotland have closed their fisheries until further notice.

General Practitioners

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13054 by Susan Deacon on 19 March 2001, whether any complaints against general practitioners (GPs) who have administered the single measles vaccination have been made under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisation etc.) Regulations 1994 or the Medicines (Standard Provision for Licences and Certificates) Amendment Regulations 1999; whether any proceedings have been or will be brought against any GPs as a result; what the result was of any such proceedings, and whether it holds any information on the outcome of any proceedings involving the General Medical Council.

Susan Deacon: The regulation and safety of medicines is a reserved matter. The Medicines Control Agency has advised that no proceedings are pending. The Executive holds no information about any such proceedings involving the General Medical Council.

Health

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are being made available to health bodies for 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Susan Deacon: Health boards received an average increase in Unified Budget for 2001-02 of 6.5%. The average increase in the Unified Budget for 2002-03 is 6.9%, with a minimum increase of 6.5%. The average increase for 2003-04 is 7.8%, with a minimum increase of 7.4%.

  The indicative Family Health Service allocations are as follows:

  


Health Board 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  

2003-04 
  



£ million 
  

£ million 
  

£ million 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

45.288 
  

47.455 
  

49.469 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

37.763 
  

39.572 
  

41.247 
  



Borders 
  

11.073 
  

11.605 
  

12.102 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

14.928 
  

15.634 
  

16.305 
  



Fife 
  

31.987 
  

33.524 
  

34.947 
  



Forth Valley 
  

26.002 
  

27.256 
  

28.409 
  



Grampian 
  

50.432 
  

52.863 
  

55.122 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

102.959 
  

107.865 
  

112.390 
  



Highland 
  

24.969 
  

26.148 
  

27.282 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

53.298 
  

55.845 
  

58.209 
  



Lothian 
  

77.233 
  

80.970 
  

84.405 
  



Orkney 
  

2.526 
  

2.650 
  

2.767 
  



Shetland 
  

2.437 
  

2.554 
  

2.667 
  



Tayside 
  

40.880 
  

42.856 
  

44.677 
  



Western Isles 
  

3.760 
  

3.938 
  

4.114 
  



Total 
  

525.535 
  

550.735 
  

574.112 
  



  Note:

  These indicative allocations are the Scottish Executive’s assumption of the amount needed for the demand led Family Health Services and covers the costs of general medical services, general dental services and general ophthalmic services.

  The allocations for Special Health Boards are as follows:

  Note:

  Allocations for 2002-03 and 2003-04 are indicative.

Health

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to issue guidance to NHS Trusts on the provision of free nebulisers for patients with lung disease living in the community.

Susan Deacon: We have no plans to do so. The decision on whether a nebuliser should be issued rests with the patient’s hospital consultant.

Justice

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12357 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 January 2001, what related work is being taken forward by the Lord President’s Advisory Committee regarding the revised Small Claims (Scotland) Amendment Order and the revised Sheriff Court (Scotland) Act 1971 (Private Jurisdiction and Summary Cause) Order and what the timetable is for the completion of this work.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive will fix the date to lay these Orders once the current review of the Summary Cause and Small Claim Rules and the consequential review of the Table of Fees for Solicitors in Summary Cause actions is completed. The review of the Rules is being conducted by the Sheriff Court Rules Council in the first instance, and is then a matter for the Court of Session to consider any recommendations. The Table of Fees is for the Lord President’s Advisory Committee and then for the Court of Session. The review of the Rules is, I understand, still some months from completion. The current aim of the Sheriff Court Rules Council is to submit draft Rules to the Court of Session during the course of this year. The Lord President’s Advisory Committee will not be able to consider the issue of fees in detail until the content of the Rules is clear.

Justice

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what length of time Louis McDonald, recently discharged under a Not Proven verdict for the murder of Christopher Cawley, served of the six-year sentence he received in 1997 for violent assault.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Mr McDonald did not receive a sentence in 1997 for violent assault. He was, however, convicted of Assault to Severe Injury and Permanent Disfigurement on 17 January 1995 and sentenced to six years imprisonment. This was subsequently reduced on appeal to five years effective from 5 July 1994. Mr McDonald was released on Parole Licence on 3 January 1997 and subsequently recalled to custody on 19 May 1999 and re-released on 4 July 1999.

Land Reform

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the consultation period for the draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code in the light of the current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in order to ensure that farmers and other interested parties in rural areas have time to meet to discuss their response to the legislation.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive fully appreciates the difficulties being experienced in rural areas from foot-and-mouth disease, and eradicating the disease remains the Executive’s highest priority. We are also aware of the problems farmers and related organisations have had in arranging meetings and considering their responses to the draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the Draft Scottish Outdoor Access Code at this particularly difficult time.

  In light of this, I have decided that it is necessary to extend this consultation period to the end of June. However, I would urge those who are in a position to respond, to send their comments early, so that the department can consider fully the points raised prior to receiving responses from other organisations which face greater difficulties.

  The Executive takes consultation exercises very seriously and it is important that all consultees are given sufficient time to respond to the draft proposals. I have arranged for all MSPs and other consultees to be informed individually in writing of this extension.

Ministerial Correspondence

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister of Rural Development will respond to my letter of 4 December 2000 on behalf of my constituent Roy Anderson-Tyres regarding licensing of butchers shops.

Malcolm Chisholm: A reply was issued on 28 March 2001.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards or NHS Trusts have made payments to staff in lieu of annual leave not taken in the past three years, specifying in each case the total amount paid in this respect.

Susan Deacon: The information is not available centrally in the detail requested.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address any staff shortages in the ear, nose and throat department of Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust in response to recent instances of check-up appointments being cancelled several times.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, if necessary in consultation with Grampian Health Board. These bodies are responsible for assessing health service requirements in their area and for determining priorities within the increased resources we are making available to NHSScotland.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that the instances of an NHS manager’s management style being "unreasonably intimidating" and NHS staff being treated in an "unreasonable and unprofessional manner" identified in the report of the Kilshaw Inquiry Team into Tayside Health Board are not repeated elsewhere in the NHSiS.

Susan Deacon: The management style and actions of the senior management team in Tayside Health Board during the mid-1990s was clearly not acceptable. Since the Kilshaw inquiry report NHSScotland organisations have become more open and accountable to the public and action has been taken to ensure non-executive trustees are better trained to undertake their role more effectively. A centrally supported Management Development Framework is currently in preparation, this is aimed at developing professional relationships and will support the introduction of new appraisal arrangements which are predicated on recommendations on the critical leadership behaviours required to create a modern NHS. For individual staff, guidance on "Dignity at Work: Eliminating Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace" was issued to NHS Scotland in January. That guidance recommends that organisations should have clearly defined policy and procedure for all employees for dealing with bullying and harassment complaints and have procedures in place which enable staff to bring issues to the attention of managers without fear of reprisal.

NHS Trusts

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12259 by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2001, whether the £8,706,000 deficit incurred by North Glasgow University NHS Trust in 1999-2000 has impacted or will impact on patient care and staffing levels in the current and any future financial years and, if so, how.

Susan Deacon: During 1999-2000 North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust agreed a recovery plan with Greater Glasgow Health Board. Plans were drawn up that protect patient services and restore financial balance where necessary. Details of the impact of the measures identified under the recovery plan are not held centrally. In 2001-02 Greater Glasgow Health Board received an increased allocation of 7.72%, an extra £60.6 million, which should ensure standards of patient care continue to improve.

NHS Trusts

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12259 by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2001, whether the £2,263,000 deficit incurred by South Glasgow University NHS Trust in 1999-2000 has impacted or will impact on patient care and staffing levels in the current and any future financial years and, if so, how.

Susan Deacon: During 1999-2000 South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust agreed a recovery plan with Greater Glasgow Health Board. Plans were drawn up that protect patient services and restore financial balance where necessary. Details of the impact of the measures identified under the recovery plan are not held centrally. In 2001-02 Greater Glasgow Health Board received an increased allocation of 7.72%, an extra £60.6 million, which should ensure standards of patient care continue to improve.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8508 by Mr Tom McCabe on 30 August 2000, on how many occasions since 10 July 2000 it has asked back-bench MSPs to lodge parliamentary questions in order to enable it to make an announcement; whether it will provide a list of such questions, including the date on which they were lodged and the MSP who lodged them, and whether it can provide similar details of any inspired (a) oral and (b) First Minister’s questions lodged since May 1999.

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11263 by Mr Tom McCabe on 29 November 2000, when it will provide details on the number of inspired parliamentary questions and whether it will provide this information in response to this parliamentary question rather than by letter.

Mr Tom McCabe: There are occasions when, for the convenience of members, the Executive brings a matter to the attention of the Parliament by means of a written parliamentary question. The Procedures Committee has acknowledged this to be a useful and appropriate mechanism. The following 159 questions lodged between 10 July 2000 and 22 March 2001 inclusive were used by the Executive as a means of bringing matters to the Parliament’s attention. Oral parliamentary questions and First Minister’s questions are not suited to this purpose because of the random selection process that applies to these questions and the time limits on when these questions can be answered.

  


PQ ID Number
S1W- 
  

MSP 
  

Date lodged* 
  



8646 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

7 – 13/07/00 
  



8666 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

7 – 13/07/00 
  



8655 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

7 – 13/07/00 
  



8725 
  

Tavish Scott 
  

14 – 20/07/00 
  



8796 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

14 – 20/07/00 
  



8835 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

21 – 27/07/00 
  



8900 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

21 – 27/07/00 
  



8865 
  

Allan Wilson 
  

21 – 27/07/00 
  



8923 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

21 – 27/07/00 
  



8935 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

28/07/00 – 3/08/00 
  



8954 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

28/07/00 – 3/08/00 
  



8978 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

28/07/00 – 3/08/00 
  



9020 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

28/07/00 – 3/08/00 
  



9077 
  

Elaine Thomson 
  

4 – 10/08/00 
  



9155 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

11 – 17/08/00 
  



9212 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

11 – 17/08/00 
  



9332 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

18 – 24/08/00 
  



9385 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

18 – 24/08/00 
  



9311 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

18 – 24/08/00 
  



9481 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

29 – 30/08/00 
  



9489 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

29 – 30/08/00 
  



9824 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

14/09/00 
  



9834 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

13/09/00 
  



9874 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

14/09/00 
  



9921 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

15/09/00 
  



9967 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

19/09/00 
  



9968 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

19/09/00 
  



10051 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

21/09/00 
  



10059 
  

Lewis Macdonald 
  

22/09/00 
  



10166 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

2/10/00 
  



10257 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

4/10/00 
  



10267 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

4/10/00 
  



10279 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

5/10/00 
  



10331 
  

Margaret Curran 
  

6/10/00 
  



10347 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

9 – 11/10/00 
  



10365 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

9 – 11/10/00 
  



10413 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

12 – 18/10/00 
  



10414 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

12 – 18/10/00 
  



10557 
  

Mary Mulligan 
  

23/10/00 
  



10563 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

23/10/00 
  



10588 
  

Des McNulty 
  

24/10/00 
  



10601 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

24/10/00 
  



10623 
  

Pauline McNeill 
  

25/10/00 
  



10624 
  

Hugh Henry 
  

25/10/00 
  



10672 
  

Andy Kerr 
  

26/10/00 
  



10779 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

31/10/00 
  



10873 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

2/11/00 
  



10889 
  

Johann Lamont 
  

3/11/00 
  



10890 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

2/11/00 
  



10912 
  

Michael McMahon 
  

3/11/00 
  



10937 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

6/11/00 
  



10997 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

7/11/00 
  



11084 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

8/11/00 
  



11141 
  

Marilyn Livingstone 
  

9/11/00 
  



11167 
  

Johann Lamont 
  

10/11/00 
  



11177 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

13/11/00 
  



11229 
  

Mike Watson 
  

15/11/00 
  



11307 
  

Andy Kerr 
  

16/11/00 
  



11343 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

16/11/00 
  



11410 
  

John Home Robertson 
  

20/11/00 
  



11436 
  

Kenneth MacIntosh 
  

21/11/00 
  



11440 
  

Trish Godman 
  

22/11/00 
  



11479 
  

Mike Rumbles 
  

22/11/00 
  



11492 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

23/11/00 
  



11507 
  

Trish Godman 
  

23/11/00 
  



11516 
  

Helen Eadie 
  

23/11/00 
  



11478 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

22/11/00 
  



11556 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

27/11/00 
  



11558 
  

Pauline McNeill 
  

27/11/00 
  



11559 
  

John Home Robertson 
  

27/11/00 
  



11585 
  

Kate MacLean 
  

28/11/00 
  



11588 
  

Helen Eadie 
  

28/11/00 
  



11596 
  

Andy Kerr 
  

28/11/00 
  



11703 
  

Andy Kerr 
  

30/11/00 
  



11704 
  

Cathy Peattie 
  

30/11/00 
  



11776 
  

Duncan McNeil 
  

5/12/00 
  



11777 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

6/12/00 
  



11799 
  

John Munro 
  

6/12/00 
  



12063 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

14/12/00 
  



12073 
  

Jamie Stone 
  

18/12/00 
  



12074 
  

Janis Hughes 
  

18/12/00 
  



12075 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

18/12/00 
  



12090 
  

Elaine Thomson 
  

18/12/00 
  



12091 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

19/12/00 
  



12127 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

19/12/00 
  



12160 
  

Irene Oldfather 
  

20/12/00 – 4/01/01 
  



12161 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

20/12/00 – 4/01/01 
  



12162 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

20/12/00 – 4/01/01 
  



12163 
  

Des McNulty 
  

20/12/00 – 4/01/01 
  



12270 
  

John Home Robertson 
  

20/12/00 – 4/01/01 
  



12393 
  

Margaret Jamieson 
  

11/01/01 
  



12476 
  

Paul Martin 
  

12/01/01 
  



12478 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

15/01/01 
  



12484 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

15/01/01 
  



12491 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

15/01/01 
  



12539 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

16/01/01 
  



12447 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

15/01/01 
  



12632 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

19/01/01 
  



12726 
  

Des McNulty 
  

23/01/01 
  



12806 
  

Margaret Jamieson 
  

24/01/01 
  



12824 
  

John McAllion 
  

25/01/01 
  



12848 
  

Elaine Thomson 
  

26/01/01 
  



12877 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

29/01/01 
  



12847 
  

Marilyn Livingstone 
  

25/01/01 
  



12893 
  

Kate MacLean 
  

30/01/01 
  



12902 
  

Mary Mulligan 
  

30/01/01 
  



12934 
  

Karen Gillon 
  

31/01/01 
  



12935 
  

Cathy Peattie 
  

31/01/01 
  



12936 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

31/01/01 
  



12937 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

31/01/01 
  



12984 
  

Bristow Muldoon 
  

1/02/01 
  



12938 
  

Mike Watson 
  

31/01/01 
  



13043 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

2/02/01 
  



13044 
  

Mary Mulligan 
  

2/02/01 
  



13067 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

5/02/01 
  



13100 
  

Karen Whitefield 
  

6/02/01 
  



13192 
  

Andy Kerr 
  

7/02/01 
  



13030 
  

John Home Robertson 
  

2/02/01 
  



13167 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

7/02/01 
  



13198 
  

Paul Martin 
  

8/02/01 
  



13220 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

8/02/01 
  



13221 
  

Janis Hughes 
  

8/02/01 
  



13296 
  

Michael McMahon 
  

13/02/01 
  



13376 
  

Margaret Jamieson 
  

14/02/01 
  



13413 
  

Bill Butler 
  

14/02/01 
  



13377 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

14/02/01 
  



13419 
  

Bristow Muldoon 
  

14/02/01 
  



13477 
  

Johann Lamont 
  

15/02/01 
  



13479 
  

Des McNulty 
  

15/02/01 
  



13528 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

16 – 23/02/01 
  



13514 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

16 – 23/02/01 
  



13515 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

16 – 23/02/01 
  



13534 
  

Lewis Macdonald 
  

16 – 23/02/01 
  



13592 
  

Cathie Craigie 
  

16 – 23/02/01 
  



13732 
  

Kenneth MacIntosh 
  

28/02/01 
  



13762 
  

Euan Robson 
  

28/02/01 
  



13825 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

1/03/01 
  



13879 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

5/03/01 
  



13911 
  

Scott Barrie 
  

6/03/01 
  



13912 
  

John Home Robertson 
  

6/03/01 
  



13980 
  

Marilyn Livingstone 
  

7/03/01 
  



14021 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

8/03/01 
  



14026 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

8/03/01 
  



14147 
  

Frank McAveety 
  

13/03/01 
  



14154 
  

Rhoda Grant 
  

13/03/01 
  



14162 
  

Tavish Scott 
  

14/03/01 
  



14179 
  

Dr Elaine Murray 
  

14/03/01 
  



14180 
  

Janis Hughes 
  

14/03/01 
  



14181 
  

Irene Oldfather 
  

14/03/01 
  



14182 
  

Dr Sylvia Jackson 
  

14/03/01 
  



14235 
  

Dr Richard Simpson 
  

16/03/01 
  



14238 
  

Des McNulty 
  

16/03/01 
  



14299 
  

Margaret Jamieson 
  

20/03/01 
  



14322 
  

Cathy Jamieson 
  

21/03/01 
  



14323 
  

Bristow Muldoon 
  

21/03/01 
  



14350 
  

Mary Mulligan 
  

21/03/01 
  



14142 
  

Gordon Jackson 
  

13/03/01 
  



14392 
  

Trish Godman 
  

22/03/01 
  



14393 
  

Maureen MacMillan 
  

22/03/01 
  



  *These dates have been taken from the appropriate Business Bulletins.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8508 by Mr Tom McCabe on 30 August 2000, on how many occasions since 10 July 2000 it has asked back-bench MSPs to lodge parliamentary questions in order to enable it to make an announcement; whether it will provide a list of such questions including the date on which they were lodged, and whether any of its officials have written authorisations to lodge parliamentary questions in the names of back-bench MSPs.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14451. It remains the case that officials do not have authorisation to lodge questions on behalf of members.

Planning

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take on the recommendations made in the recently published research report, Obsolete Commercial and Industry Property , prepared by Ekos and Ryden Property Consultants for the Central Research Unit.

Lewis Macdonald: The recommendations will inform a range of current and future work including, for example, the review of National Planning Policy Guideline 2: Business and Industry .

Prison Service

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12051 by Angus MacKay on 8 February 2001, why the number of full-time staff it employs in North Lanarkshire fell from 660 in 1999 to 585 in 2000.

Angus MacKay: The change in staff numbers relates to the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  The decline in staff numbers is due to the closure of Longriggend.

Prison Service

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers under the age of 35 at (a) HM Prison Cornton Vale and (b) HM Prison Perth have left the service in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  


Year 
  

Cornton Vale 
  

Perth 
  



28.03.98-27.03.99 
  

3 
  

17 
  



28.03.99-27.03.00 
  

6 
  

9 
  



28.03.00-27.03.01 
  

12 
  

16

Salmon Farming

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it plans to take to promote salmon farming and when it will respond to the letter sent by the Convenors of the Rural Development and the Transport and the Environment Committees on 7 February 2001 asking whether it will hold an independent inquiry into the environmental impacts of sea cage fish farming.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive will continue to support the development of salmon farming within a framework which has due regard to the environment and to the interests of other coastal stakeholders. To that end it is involved in a range of initiatives which includes a comprehensive research and development programme, a fish health inspection regime and a new FIFG scheme designed to support competitiveness and to assist businesses to diversify and embrace more environmentally sustainable practices.

  We are actively considering the Rural Development and the Transport and Environment Committees’ recent request and will give our reply soon.

Transport

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give to passengers on the Glasgow Underground that the lines will be cleared of debris and that services will return to normal as quickly as possible, following a derailment on 22 March 2001.

Sarah Boyack: The operation of the Glasgow Underground railway system is the responsibility of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE). I understand that SPTE reinstated full services on 29 March.

Vaccines

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13156 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 March 2001, when it will be in a position to announce the resumption of the BCG vaccination programme.

Malcolm Chisholm: On 24 March, I announced, through Scottish Executive News Release SE0786, the resumption of the schools BCG vaccination programme in Scotland.

Water Authorities

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive,  further to the answer to question S1W-13199 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 February 2001, what impact the reduction in grant to North of Scotland Water Authority from £24.4 million in 1996-97 to £1.2 million in 2001-02 will have on average domestic water and sewerage charges.

Ross Finnie: The grant payments relate mainly to specific schemes that have now ended. As the grants scored against the authority’s external finance limit, they effectively reduced the amount available to be borrowed. The effect on charges is therefore equivalent to the saving on interest charges.